Valley hung on for a five-run victory against Welsh side Ynysygerwn after a very close contest.

In front of 3,000 supporters, Ynysygerwn were left needing six to win off the final ball of the day with John Sowden, who had already received some tap, facing veteran wicket-keeper Chris Prowt.

Instead of being blazed to the boundary, Sowden’s delivery was glanced down to fine-leg and in the resulting scramble Prowt was run out handing Valley the win.

Earlier in the day openers Martin Wall, 24, and Chris Ridsdale, 41, got Valley’s innings off to a good start and number three Andy Grayson kept the momentum going with a crashing 29.

After this Forge began to collapse, and but for a quick-fire 15 from Steve Glaves at the end of the innings, Valley would have returned to the pavilion with a lot less than their 170-9.

The Welsh side began well with Roy Williams and Robert Hicks both reaching the 20s, but Ynysygerwn soon had a collapse of their own, thanks to Glaves’ spell of 3-43 and skipper Martin Shepherdson’s 2-21.

David Thomas put the Welshmen back in with a shout, smashing 55. But as the overs ticked away, Valley kept it tight and managed to hold out in a dramatic finish.

Skipper Shepherdson said after the final: “I’m shattered, I feel totally drained. I’ve been here twice before (with Scarborough CC), but to lead a winning side at Lord’s is something else.”

Shepherdson, who now plays for Valley’s second team, went on defend his decision to allow John Sowden to deliver the last over of the day, after he had been sprayed to all corners of the park in some of his previous overs.

“I geed him up. I realised they had got a hold of John, but he’s someone I can always turn to.

“He bowled the last over and played as big a part in the win as anyone else.”